UPDATE: 10:20 a.m. ET — Tony Stewart's racing team manager, Greg Zipadelli, just announced that Stewart will not race in NASCAR's Sprint Cup event Sunday at Watkins Glen. Earlier in the day Zipadelli had said that Stewart would drive, despite striking and killing a young competitor in a dirt track race the night before. He said then that the race would be "business as usual."

Tony Stewart's car struck and killed a young driver who was walking toward him and pointing angrily after the three-time NASCAR champion spun out the less-experienced competitor's sprint car Saturday night at a dirt track in upstate New York. Police were sent to the track to investigate.

Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said the investigation was not criminal, the Associated Press reported. The sheriff said Stewart, who was "fully cooperative" and appeared "very upset," had been questioned and released.

At some point during the race the 43-year-old Stewart's car drifted into Kevin Ward Jr.'s and they touched wheels, causing the younger driver's No. 13 car to spin, slam into the wall and blow a tire. Ward stormed out of his car, and as Stewart drove back around under caution, Ward began walking onto the track and wildly gesticulating at one of the biggest stars in auto racing.

Video of the incident posted Saturday night on YouTube corroborated what witnesses told several media outlets: that Stewart's car slightly swerved and his rear tire appeared to have clipped some part of Ward's body, thrashing him under the wheel and flinging his limp and lifeless form several yards forward on the slick dirt track.

The video shows that Ward was wearing a black helmet and firesuit on the dimly lit track, walking toward Stewart's car before being hit.

WARNING: The video may be disturbing to some viewers.

Authorities later confirmed that Ward was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital. Ward's website states that he was 17 years old, though he may have been a few years older.

Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by Stewart, issued a statement early Sunday:

A tragic accident took place last night during a sprint car race in which Tony Stewart was participating. Tony was unhurt, but a fellow competitor lost his life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We're still attempting to sort through all the details and we appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.

Several witnesses described the horrific scene to multiple media outlets Saturday.

"The prior lap, Tony had gotten into him — just spun him, nothing big, just spun him around," race fan Adam Dulski, 27, told USA Today. "The caution came out. [Ward] hopped out to go and yell and point a finger at Tony, typical thing.

Sprint-car driver Kevin Ward moments before he is struck by Tony Stewart's car.

Image: YouTube

"Tony came around ... the back end slid out, and he definitely caught him ... the body made contact with the car and went sliding across the track a long distance, at least 50 feet," he said. "It was the worst thing I've ever seen."

Fellow sprint racer Tyler Graves, 16, of Bolivar, N.Y., also told USA Today that Stewart's car swerved and his right rear tire struck Ward, swept him under the tire and launched his body a long distance.

Kevin Ward Jr. with his No. 13 sprint car.

Image: Kevinwardracing.com

The Associated Press reported that the Ontario County Sheriff's Department sent officers to the track to investigate. The track canceled the remainder of the Empire Super Sprints slate within minutes of the incident.

One of the most decorated names in racing, Stewart has always maintained his roots in the dirt-track circuit, participating in dozens of events annually when the former IndyCar champion is not out on the big tracks racing for the big bucks. But he had been away from his hobby while he recovered from a compound leg fracture suffered last August 5 at a sprint car race in Iowa.

Stewart, a fierce competitor no matter where he's racing, was blamed for touching off a wreck that hospitalized two drivers at the Canandaigua dirt track last July.

Sprint cars, with naturally aspirated V8 engines that generate as much as 1,000 horsepower, are primarily designed for dirt tracks and can get up to 140 mph. With huge roof-mounted wings and oversized tires, the cars are known to easily swerve and "drift" around turns.

In the current NASCAR season, Stewart is now 19th in the standings. With five races to go before the championship round, known as the Chase, Stewart needs to win one of those to have a chance to compete for the championship.

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